Presentation is loading. Please wait.

Presentation is loading. Please wait.

Benefits/Costs of Going West

Published byFelix Washington Modified over 6 years ago

Similar presentations

Presentation on theme: "Benefits/Costs of Going West"— Presentation transcript:

1 Benefits/Costs of Going West
The West Benefits/Costs of Going West

2 Benefits of Going West Homestead Act (1862) – granted 160 acre homestead (farm) to any American citizen or prospective citizen willing to live in Great Plains and cultivate land for five years 600,000 people took advantage of this

3 Pacific Railway Act (1862) gave land to railway company to develop a transcontinental railroad linking east and west coasts

4 Morrill Act (1862) gave land grants to all states to help finance agricultural colleges, to train young farmers and help develop the west Native Americans loose more than 11 million acres to non-Native American settlers

5 Railroads advertised in East and Europe
Railroad companies would sell land to settlers to pay for laying tracks Railroads advertised in East and Europe Stimulated Midwest and western industry: lumber

6 New technology Drilling technology to tap underground water Windmills
New plow blades “self-binding” harvesters that cut and tie wheat

7 Bonanza Farms Owned by large companies Run like factories
Efficient machinery and cheap land Foreman in charge of farms Refrigerated railcars allowed crops to be shipped east In times of severe drought profits fell By 1890s, most bonanza farms fell apart

8 Promise of a better life Economic motives
Three groups White Americans from east African Americans from south Immigrants from Europe and Asia New England farmers looking for more fertile soil Civil War vets want a new start Promise of racial tolerance for African Americans Exodusters from Kansas settled approximately 20,000 acres

9 U.S. Department of Agriculture Dry farming
1862 – helped farmers to adapt to environment Dry farming Planting and farming techniques that conserve moisture Plow deep furrows to bring moisture to surface after the rain

10 Costs of Going West Supplies and transportation expensive Environment
few water sources Trees scarce

11 Bitter cold winters and blazing hot summers Windy Sod houses
Heavy, dirty, filled with insects, damp and dark Insects

12 Rough life for everyone
Isolation Lack of schools Vulnerability of harvests Could lose everything

Download ppt "Benefits/Costs of Going West"

Similar presentations

Technology on the Plains Kirsten graphics and text revised from:

Technology on the Plains Kirsten graphics and text revised from:
The Great Plains A quick tour. Location The Great Plains are located just east of the Rocky Mountains.

The Great Plains A quick tour. Location The Great Plains are located just east of the Rocky Mountains.
Transforming the Nation. Big Idea How can people change the world they live in?

Transforming the Nation. Big Idea How can people change the world they live in?
Chapter 14: The Western Crossroads ( )

Chapter 14: The Western Crossroads ( )
Settling on the Great Plains

Settling on the Great Plains
Chapter 25 Section 1 The Cold War BeginsTransforming the West Section 3 Analyze the impact of mining and railroads on the settlement of the West. Explain.

Chapter 25 Section 1 The Cold War BeginsTransforming the West Section 3 Analyze the impact of mining and railroads on the settlement of the West. Explain.
Economic Development of the West: (442-443) –During the Civil War, Republicans tried to manage western development so that new western states and territories.

Economic Development of the West: ( ) –During the Civil War, Republicans tried to manage western development so that new western states and territories.
A Treeless Wasteland? Not Any More!.

A Treeless Wasteland? Not Any More!.
Manifest Destiny: idea that the US was ordained to expand to the Pacific Ocean. Some proponents suggested we should absorb Canada, Mexico, and the nations.

Manifest Destiny: idea that the US was ordained to expand to the Pacific Ocean. Some proponents suggested we should absorb Canada, Mexico, and the nations.
Essential Question: What factors led to the settlement of the West during the Gilded Age (1870-1900)?

Essential Question: What factors led to the settlement of the West during the Gilded Age ( )?
Farming the Plains The Main Idea The government promoted the settlement of the West, offering free or cheap land to those willing to put in the hard work.

Farming the Plains The Main Idea The government promoted the settlement of the West, offering free or cheap land to those willing to put in the hard work.
Homesteading and Life on the Plain SETTLING ON THE GREAT PLAIN.

Homesteading and Life on the Plain SETTLING ON THE GREAT PLAIN.
Chapter 14: The Western Crossroads ( )

Chapter 14: The Western Crossroads ( )
1862- gov’t action to lure people West Homestead Act- 160 acres to farm if they stayed on the Great Plains for 5 years  Ex) Oklahoma- offered free land,

1862- gov’t action to lure people West Homestead Act- 160 acres to farm if they stayed on the Great Plains for 5 years  Ex) Oklahoma- offered free land,
Settling The Great Plains Moving out to the west.

Settling The Great Plains Moving out to the west.
Take notes Only take notes on new material New material will be in blue.

Take notes Only take notes on new material New material will be in blue.
HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON The American Nation HOLT IN THE MODERN ERA 1 Chapter 5 THE WESTERN CROSSROADS Section 1: War in the West Section 2: Western.

HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON The American Nation HOLT IN THE MODERN ERA 1 Chapter 5 THE WESTERN CROSSROADS Section 1: War in the West Section 2: Western.
Ch 5, Section 2 Settling on the Great Plains. From 1850 to 1871, made large land grants to railroad companies, about 170 million acres. These lands valued.

Ch 5, Section 2 Settling on the Great Plains. From 1850 to 1871, made large land grants to railroad companies, about 170 million acres. These lands valued.
Changes on the Western Frontier Chapter 5

Changes on the Western Frontier Chapter 5
AMERICAN HISTORY.  Major Stephen H. Long called the Great Plains region “The Great American Desert”  He believed the area was “unfit for cultivation.

AMERICAN HISTORY.  Major Stephen H. Long called the Great Plains region “The Great American Desert”  He believed the area was “unfit for cultivation.

Similar presentations

Ads by Google